Grille unit and carrying case for portable stoves



B. B. BALKEMA 2,570,508.

GRILLE UNIT AND CARRYING CASE FOR PORTABLE}v STOVES Oct. 9, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1948 min-J INVENTOR. er'fi'dnd 50/ 6/774.

A TTORNE Y 1951 B. B. BALKEMA 2,570,508

GRILLE UNIT AND CARRYING CASE FOR PORTABLE STOVES Filed July 1, 1948 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE GRILLE UNIT ANDCARRYING CASE FOR PORTABLE STOVES Bertrand B. Balkema, Newport, Mich.,assignor to Travelers Equipment 00., Grand Rapids,

Mich.

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to portable cooking stoves for outdoorfield use, and in particular to a combined grille unit and carrying casefor the grille unit and stove burner.

The primary object is to provide a combined carrying case and grillewhich can be easily converted from a grille unit to a carrying case forthe stove burner and the grille for said unit.

Another object is to provide a combined carrying case and grille unitwhich will withstand relatively heavy loads when the grille unit is setup to operate as a cooking stove.

Another object is to provide a combined carrying case and grille unitfor portable cooking stoves in which the grille and supporting base canbe conveniently nested in the sections of the carrying case, along withthe stove burner so that the cooking stove can be easily and readilycarried in the pocket of the user.

Another object resides in the provision of a combined carrying case andgrille unit for portable cooking stoves in which the sections of thecarrying case form the sides of the grille unit when the stove is set upfor field use.

Another object is to provide a convertible carrying case and grille unitfor portable cooking stoves in which the utensil supporting grille restsupon the separable sections of the carrying case when the stove is inoperation.

Another object resides in the provision of a portable cooking stove inwhich the side portions of the stove are adapted to form a container forthe various elements of the stove when the stove is carried in thepocket of the user.

Another object is to provide a portable cook- .ing stove and carryingcase therefor in which the carrying case forms the side supports for thestovergrille when the stove is set up for use, and to provide means onthe carrying case and grille unit elements for separately and slidablyconnecting the various parts together when it is desired to set thestove up for outdoor use.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a flexiblecontainer for receiving the cooking stove and carrying case when thestove is collapsed and folded for storage.

Another object of the invention is to form the various elements of thecooking stove so that they can be conveniently stored when not in use,with the side members of the stove forming a carrying case when saidmembers are placed in frictional engagement one with the other.

Another object is to provide a portable collapsible cooking stove inwhich the grille member supported a slight distance above the sidesupports to prevent excessive heat radiation in the direction of theburner.

Another object is to provide a portable collapsible cooking stove inwhich the base member is designed to support the liquid fuel burner andsimultaneously maintain the side members (carrying case sections) inrigid fixed relationship when the stove is in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description of the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the flexible fabric case into whichthe portable cooking stove is adapted to be stored when not in use.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the cooking stove set up foroperation and illustrating the liquid fuel burner in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a top elevational View of the portable cooking stove showingthe general structure of the utensil supporting grille.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view showing the-manner in which the baseand grille are removably secured to the casing sections.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the stove in its foldedposition when the base and grille are nested within the separable casingsections.

Figure 6 is a transverse cross sectional view taken at right angles toFigure 5, further showing the manner in which the grille and base arenested within the casing sections with the liquid fuel burner disposedtherebetween.

Figure '7 is a horizontal cross sectional view showing the portablecooking stove in its folded position with the base and grille membernested therein, and

Figure 8 is a vertical cross sectional view of the portable cookingstove showing the same assembled for use with the casing sectionsforming the sides of the stove, and the base and grille member removablyaffixed thereto for holding the sides in spaced relation and forming acooking stove for field use.

In the drawings, and more in detail, the portable field cooking stove isshown as being composed of four separably comlected sections andinterfitting of one within the other. Each casing section includes amarginal flange l which terminates in a pressed bead 8 extending aboutthe entire perimeter of the flange. The pressed bead portions 8 areadapted to slidably interfit to form a closed storage chamber when theportable field stove is folded in a compact position. At the point wherethe marginal bead 8 connects with the flange 1, there is formed ashoulder H] which is engaged by the edge of the opposing flange I,thereby limiting sliding movementj beyond the shoulder IE but yetproviding a sliding frictional fit between the adjacent bead surfaces.

The base of the portable cooking stove is formed of a pressed metalsection II having upturned end portions l2, and said end portions arespaced a distance equal to the width of the'c asing sections to enablethe casing sections to be interlocked therewith when the stove is inuse. Each upstanding end portion is is pressed outwardly as at it toform a finger engaging projection to permit the easy and quickseparation of the base member 1 I when dismantling the various parts ofthe stove.

Formed adjacent each edge of the supporting base member H is a pressedrib is adapted to provide internal recessed grooves of a width equal tothe width of the pressed bead 8 so that the base member can befrictionally and slidably affixed to the lower ends of the casingsections as shown in Figure 2. Thus, the pressed beads 8 and pressedribs 56 provide mutually engaging friction surfaces for holding thecasing sections and 6 in spaced apart relation.

In order to support the liquid fuel burner B, Figures 2 and 4, a pair ofuprights are struck up from the bottom wall H of the base and saiduprights are spaced apart such that the burner B will be supportedthereon adjacent the ends thereof. The upper edge of each upright I6 iscut away as at ii a distance equal to the Width of the burner base forreception of the base of the burner, to thereby hold the same in placeagainst lateral movement caused through accidental shocks or jars.

Suitable reinforcing ribs it! (Figure 4) are formed in the bottom wall Ii of the base by pressure or the like to add rigidity thereto andprevent bending of the base in a direction to cause the casing sectionswhen in place to move either inwardly or outwardly.

Mounted on the upper portion of and supported by the spaced apart casingsections 5 and 6- is a grille structure generally designated 26, andsaid grille structure is formed of a series of wire rods 2i arranged inlongitudinal spaced apart relation, and have their ends welded orotherwise affixed to a pair of spaced apart end supports 22, likewiseformed of wire rod stock of substantially the same diameter as thegrille wires 2E. The centralmost grille rods 2| are arcuately bent as at2m to prevent interruption of the flame from the burner. The free endsof the supporting members 22 are bent downwardly as at 23 and terminatein inwardly bent foot portions 24 (Figure 4), which are adapted toengage the upper edge of the respective casing section flanges and restthereon when the stove is assembled for use.

Each of the downwardly depending portions 23 of the grille wire supportshas amxed thereto a plate-like member 26 which has its upper portiondepressed as at 27 to lit the curved contour of the depending legportions 23. The platelike members 26 are welded or otherwise attachedto the depending leg portions 23 of the grille wire supports so that theupper ends will terminate a slight distance below the horizontal planeof the grille wires 2|, and thus be removed from the path of cookingutensils placed on said grille. The lower portion of the plate-likemembers 26 are also pressed or stamped as at 28 to provide internalrecesses or grooves of a width substantially equal to the width of theoffset beaded portion 8 of the casing sections so that the grillestructure will frictionally fit on said casing sections.

The depressed portions 28 are actually of a Width slightly greater thanthe width of the beaded portion '8 so that a snug frictional fit willresult when the parts are assembled as a stove structure.

It is to be noted, that the depressed or stamped Q portions 21 and 28are offset as at 29 so that the inwardly bent foot portions 24 of thegrille supporting legs 23 will engage slightly in back of the shoulder10 and add rigidity to the grille structure. Thus, as pointed out inconnection with the depressed portions Hi, the depressed or stampedportions 28 will form with the beaded portions 8 mutually engagingfriction surfaces of channel-like section to permit the grille to beeasily applied and removed from the casing sections without resorting tocomplicated fastener elements and the like.

All of the parts of the portable cooking stove including the casingsections 6 and 5 are formed of Monel metal or similar composition alloy,having relatively low heat radiating characteristics so that heat willnot be reflected in the direction of the burner B and cause irregularburner operation.

When it is desired to store the stove in the pocket, the base II andgrille structure 20 are removed by sliding the same in a directionawayfrom the casing sections. 'After the base and grille structure areremoved they are nested in the casing sections, with the base in onesection and the grille structure in the other as shown in Figures 6 and7 'By then placing the complementary casing sections together (alsoFigures 6 and '7) so that the pressed bead portions 3 frictionallyinterfit in overlapping relation the stove will be folded to a compactunit which can be easily stored in the pocket of the user.

The portable cooking stove is adapted to be placed in a receptacle afterthe same has been folded, and as illustrated in Figure 1, the receptacleincludes a flexible container formed of duck or other material ofgeneral rectangular outline. The container 36 includes a bottom (notshown) having side and end walls 3| and 32 respectively. One of the sidewalls is provided with a flap closure 32 which forms the top wall of thereceptacle, and said flap is provided with a tab 33 adapted to be heldin place by a separable snap fastener 35. When the portable cookingstove has been folded as shown in Figures 6 and 7, with the burner Balso stored therebetween, the same is slipped into the receptacle 30 andthe flap closure 3233 is fastened in place by the snap fastener $35;-

'It will thus be seen, that the invention provides a portable cookingstove which can be conveniently carried in the pocket, and which can beeasily assembled and dismantled without requiring considerable efiort ortime.

I claim: I 1. In a portable cooking stove, a pair of relatively flatcasing sections having side flanges provided with ribbed edge portions,said casing sections being adapted when separated to form the side wallsof a stove, a base having upturned ends provided with depressed portionsof channel section for receiving the ribbed edges at the lower portionsof said casing sections, a grille for supporting utensils adapted to beremovably afixed to the upper edges of said casing sections, andconnecting members on the grille having channel-shaped recesses forreceiving the ribbed edge portions of the casing sections.

2. In a portable cooking stove, a pair of relatively flat casingsections having side flanges provided with ribbed edge portions, saidcasin sections being adapted when separated to forn. the side walls of astove, a base having upturned ends provided with depressed portions ofchannel section for receiving the ribbed edges at the lower portions ofsaid casing sections, a grille for supporting utensils adapted to beremovably affixed to the upper edges of said casing sections, andconnecting members on the grille having channel-shaped recesses forreceiving the ribbed edge portions of the casing sections, the channelrecesses on the base and grille forming with the ribbed edge portions ofthe casing sections mutually engaging friction surfaces to retain thestove in an assembled position.

3. In a portable cooking stove having a liquid fuel burner, a pair ofseparable casing sections having ribbed edge portions adapted to bereceived one within the other when the casing sections are closed, saidcasing sections being adapted to form the side walls of the stove whenopened, a base removably secured to the lower edges of said casingsections to hold the same in spaced apart relation, a grille forsupporting cooking utensils removably aflixed to the upper edges of saidcasing sections, and a pair of struck up supporting members on said basefor supporting the liquid fuel burner, said base and grille beingprovided with recesses of channel section adapted to cooperate with theribbed edge portions of the casing sections and form mutually engagingfriction surfaces.

BERTRAND B. BALKEMA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 507,828 Montanus Oct. 31, 1893667,176 Cochran June 26, 1901 1,199,257 Ferdon Sept. 26, 1916 1,358,495Aronson Nov. 9, 1920 1,466,343 Rouse Aug. 28, 1923 2,119,779 Sirey June'7, 1938 2,246,080 Tullis -1 June 17, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 339,979 France June 23, 1904 846,360 France Sept. 15, 1939

